The problem for us boomers is fitting everything that we want to do into our waking hours. All the new technology has only made our days more complicated, given us more things to do and learn, yet all we hear from our kids is how bored they are. What?
It’s true as George Will even wrote in a recent column called, “Lost In Electronica”. Instead of providing unlimited intellectual and entertainment value, our connected and high-tech present-day world seems to have created, among kids, an even more limited attention span.
My first reaction is a resounding, “Are You Kidding Me?” said in my best De Niro voice. But, then I thought about it. First, MTV changed the way in which all things video were edited and presented by their fast cut style. Soon, movies and television adopted this fast-cutting style.
Next, we got the Internet, Texting and its acronyms, and finally Twitter and its 140 character limit. Our kids even stopped using voicemail (ask any teen if they use their voicemail and I bet you the majority of them will almost give you a blank look!). Texting is the communication of choice.
And, we wonder why our kids can’t write? Not too hard to do OMG, WTF, TTYL, LMAO, along with “Cya,” and the non-stop use of “Dude,” even for girls. Yes, for this generation and who knows what’s next, even the sound bite is too long. I still like writing a letter and mailing it. Boy, am I old…
